preface

Have you ever seen Songjiang in Shanghai? Songjiang is known as the root of Shanghai, with a long history and beautiful scenery that makes people linger and forget to leave. After reading this guide, you will have a better understanding of Shanghai Songjiang.

Shanghai is an international metropolis. In the evening, the brilliant neon lights highlight the glory of the Oriental Pearl TV Tower. The Bund Square is crowded with people, laughing, and the lights of high-rise buildings are like a continuous picture. Various foreign buildings shimmer in the light, as if made of gold, telling us the history of Shanghai.

Regarding the itinerary

Day 1: Xiamen - Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Happy Valley - Sheshan National Forest Park - Forest Hotel - Dining at Hotel Restaurant - Check in at Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel
The next day: Guangfulin Cultural Site - Drunken White Pool - Yunjian Granary - Uncle Xiao - Check into Kaiyuan Mingdu Hotel
Day 3: Smurfs Theme Park - Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden - Shanghai Hongqiao Airport - Xiamen

First stop: Happy Valley

My first stop in Songjiang, Shanghai was at Shanghai Happy Valley. I have been to Happy Valley in other places before, but this time I came to Shanghai Happy Valley to experience that the park is quite large. There were many people queuing up to enter early in the morning, and the entrance of Happy Valley was already filled with tourists. I noticed that many young people come here to play, after all, the activities inside are quite exciting and relatively suitable for young people. Of course, there are also activities for children to play.
Here, there is the tone of old Shanghai and the fashion of the new magic city; This is a paradise for adventurers and a paradise for dreamers. Come to the Ocean Fantasy Pavilion and experience 10000 square meters of high-tech interaction, 6D virtual roller coaster, diving kangaroo, rainbow vortex, jellyfish family... bringing parents and babies to check-in is the most suitable. The 1200 meter all wooden roller coaster, Gu Mu You Long, is suitable for adventure players. It can hover at high speed, dive quickly, and stand shoulder to shoulder with the sun at the top, enjoying a blood pumping and energetic summer! There are also mining adventures, the twin heroes of heaven and earth, and ocean adventures.

As soon as we entered the gate of Happy Valley, we first came to Happy Time to check in. There are so many activities to play here. I saw that many tourists had already lined up here. It turned out that they were playing roller coasters. When I approached, I saw that the roller coaster here was different from the one I saw outside. It was made of wooden blocks and not very high, so it was relatively fun. But don't underestimate this roller coaster. Sitting on it is still a bit scary. The speed is too fast. When climbing to a certain height, it suddenly falls from a high place to the bottom and slides away quickly. For those who are afraid of heights, it is recommended not to go up and play.

Going further inside, we arrived at the Old Shanghai neighborhood. Here, Old Shanghai evokes memories of the old dreams of the 1920s and 1930s, while the rhythm of modern disco and the proliferation of internet cafes take us back to the modern civilized life of the 21st century. You can still feel the old Shanghai architecture of the 1920s and 1930s in Happy Valley. Experience happiness in the joyful ocean, where there are many activities for children to play. There are many activities painted blue, just like the color of the sea. Many parents bring their children here to play, such as water airships, Ocean One, Ocean Star, etc., which are very popular among children. Summer is here, and it should be the favorite place for children to play. You can also play in the water and escape the heat in summer.

Strategy:
Location: No. 888 Linhu Road, Sheshan Town, Songjiang District, Shanghai
Opening hours: 09:30-18:00 from May 1st to June 30th (the latest admission is 18:00); 09:00-19:30 on Labor Day (19:30 at the latest), 09:00-19:30 on Loong Boat Festival (19:30 at the latest); Please refer to the official website of the scenic spot for specific opening hours
Ticket: Adult 220 yuan
Transportation strategy: Take Metro Line 9 and get off at Sheshan Station. Cross the street to the Happy Valley shuttle station and take the park shuttle bus.

Second stop: Sheshan National Forest Park

Sheshan National Forest Park has beautiful mountains, lush forests, and abundant animal and plant resources, especially famous for the bamboo shoots produced in the mountains, which have a fragrant orchid aroma. Sheshan National Forest Park is located in the southwest of Songjiang District, a suburb of Shanghai. The mountains are dense with pine and bamboo, and the scenery is beautiful. In addition to the most commonly visited Dongsheshan and Xisheshan, there are also 12 peaks including Tianma Mountain, Fenghuang Mountain, and Xiaokunshan Mountain. Except for artificially stacked mountains, Sheshan Mountain Range is the only "real" mountain in Shanghai, and Tianma Mountain with an altitude of 98.2 meters naturally becomes the highest peak in Shanghai.

Climbing to the top of Sheshan Mountain and looking around, the entire scenery of Sheshan can be seen. There are many villas, which should be worth a lot in Shanghai. Looking around, the villas at the foot of the mountain are surrounded by trees, and the residents living in the surrounding area are happy. They can climb Sheshan Forest Park every day, breathe fresh air in the forest, and take a walk in the evening. There is an ancient Sheshan Observatory at the top of the mountain, but it was not open to the public when we went up, so it's a pity that we didn't see inside the observatory. Looking forward to checking in here again next time. There are many stone guardrails with various constellation patterns carved on them in front of the entrance of the observatory, such as the fairy constellation. These constellations indicate that this place is related to astronomy.

Strategy:
Transportation: A few meters from the exit of Sheshan Station on Metro Line 9, most of the seats are close to Sheshan. The Qingsong Line, Huchen Line, Songchen Line, Songjiang 92 Road, Shiqing Line, Songzhong Line She Line, East Sheshan, and West Sheshan 1-2 stations are within a 10 minute walk
Ticket: Free
Opening hours: 08:30-16:30 (Monday Sunday, January 1st December 31st)

Cuisine: Forest Hotel Chinese Restaurant

After climbing down from Sheshan National Forest Park, my stomach was already starving. There was a hotel called Forest Hotel right across from the entrance of the park. Unexpectedly, the food in the hotel was also open to the public. It could be said that the food was hidden deep inside the hotel. We went straight here for lunch. Unexpectedly, the price and cost-effectiveness of this restaurant were very high, but we didn't know much about it. We ordered several dishes, all of which tasted very good. The key is that some dishes are childhood memories for Shanghainese. White cut chicken looks no different from ordinary chicken, but it tastes different. The taste is even better than ordinary chicken, mainly because this restaurant has chosen different varieties of chicken, which are more tender and easier to eat.

A new method of making fish soup, fresh and delicious. The fish soup is as white as milk and tastes really good and fresh. This pot is consumed all at once. Braised pork rice is the first time I have eaten rice made in this way. It's simply delicious. The fat and greasy meat from the pork belly is incorporated into the rice, and a little clear vegetables are also added to the rice, which is similar to but different from the salty rice in our southern Fujian region. Stir it slightly when eating, it won't be greasy.

The Forest Hotel has reduced its room prices by half compared to usual during this period, which is truly cost-effective. The rooms are spacious and bright, and you can see Sheshan across the street from Sheshan Park from the balcony. The transportation here is also convenient, and parking is also convenient if driving. At the foot of Sheshan Mountain, the environment is beautiful and quiet. In short, it gives me the impression of high cost-effectiveness.

Strategy:
Hotel Address: 9259 Qingsong Road, Sheshan Outer Area, Songjiang District, Shanghai

Third stop: Guangfulin Cultural Site

Ten years Shanghai looks at Pudong, a hundred years Shanghai looks at Puxi, and a thousand years Shanghai looks at Songjiang. Songjiang is the birthplace of Shanghai's historical and cultural heritage. As the 'root of Shanghai', Songjiang's historical and cultural heritage is uniquely charming due to its profound heritage. As early as the Neolithic Age 6000 years ago, the indigenous people of Songjiang thrived and farmed in the Guangfulin area today. By 4000 years ago, the ancestors of Wang Youfang from the Yellow River Basin had migrated to Guangfulin and, together with the local indigenous people, created the "Guangfulin Culture" of the integration of northern and southern civilizations. As a result, the roots of Shanghai had flourished.
Most people come to Guangfulin to see the magical underwater museum. Walking into Guangfulin Underwater Museum allows you to travel back thousands of years and experience the charm of this city. Half of the museum is submerged underwater.

On a vast expanse of open water, houses seem to have grown out of the water, floating on the surface. The sharp and angular lines of the buildings, like those cut by knives, seem to be experiencing a flood. The houses seem to be submerged underwater, with only the triangular ridges exposed. This is the underwater cultural exhibition hall of Guangfulin.

The Fulin Tower is a landmark building within the archaeological park, with towering spires visible from afar. Imitating the Tang Dynasty's three story ancient pagoda into a square shape, different from the hexagonal and octagonal pagodas of other periods. Fulin Tower is a religious art museum. Adjacent to the Fulin Pagoda is the Zhiya Zen Temple, which is a Buddhist cultural exhibition hall. Zhiye Zen Temple was rebuilt to commemorate the good deeds of Zen Master Zhiye in providing medical treatment and saving lives. Zhiye Zen Temple offers vegetarian noodles for 20 yuan per serving, which you can have for lunch when you're ready.

Strategy:
Transportation: Subway: Take Metro Line 8 (towards Shendu Highway), transfer at Lujiabang Road Station, take Metro Line 9 (towards Songjiang South Station), get off at Songjiang University City (exit 3), and you will arrive.
Ticket: 40 yuan
Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 (Monday Sunday, January 1st December 31st)

Fourth stop: Drunken White Pool

Drunken White Pool is one of the famous classical gardens in Jiangnan and a tourist destination in Shanghai. Starting from the predecessor of this garden, it has a history of over 900 years. The park covers an area of 76 acres. The park is lush with ancient trees, densely covered with pavilions, and has many historical sites. After more than 300 years, Zuibai Pond still preserves ancient buildings such as halls, pavilions, pavilions, boats, and pavilions, and maintains the style of Jiangnan gardens in the Ming and Qing dynasties. Its curved railings, horizontal sills, and winding corridors exude an ancient charm.

When the master finished building the garden, he thought to himself that if the great poet Li Bai were to reincarnate and come here for a leisurely stroll, he would surely be enchanted by the scenery on the pond and the gardens beside it. So let's call the garden on the pond "Drunken White Pool"! He specifically thought of Han Qi, a poet who had served as a high-ranking official in the Song Dynasty. He was very fascinated by the poetry of the Tang Dynasty poet Bai Juyi and once built a classical hall called "Zuibaitang" in his hometown of Anyang, Henan. Gu Dashen also admired Bai Juyi very much and often indulged in the beautiful artistic conception of his poetry. Therefore, he imitated Han Qi's approach and named his garden "Zuibai Pool".

Strategy:
Transportation: Songmei Line, Shanghai Songjiang Special Line, Songjiang 19 Road, Songjiang 12 Road, Songjiang 13 Road, Songjiang 9 Road, Zhuibaichi Station of Metro Line 9, Songjiang 26 Road, Songjiang 6 Road
Ticket: 12 yuan/person
Opening hours: 06:00-17:00 (Monday Sunday, January 1st December 31st)

Fifth stop: Yunjian Grain Warehouse

The Yunjian Grain Warehouse is located at 327 Songhui East Road. It was originally a grain warehouse and factory that had been abandoned for many years. The total area of the base is 98 acres, with numerous single-layer sloping roof grain silos built successively from the 1950s to the 1990s. The old granary has transformed into a new cultural landmark, brick by brick, leaving the imprint of time. The transparent glass exterior wall exudes the artistic atmosphere of the new era.

Nowadays, the old granary has transformed into a new landmark of Songjiang culture. Currently, some exhibition halls have been opened, while others are in preparation. Walking into the Yunjian granary, a huge trumpet shaped iron product appeared in front of me. At present, there are still many rooms that are not open, and I have seen some being renovated. I think this place will definitely become a cultural and artistic check-in spot in the future.

Strategy:
Address: Located at 10053 Songjin Road
Ticket: Free

Cuisine: Uncle Xiao

If you come to a place for tourism, then the delicious food is definitely not to be missed. I came to Uncle Xiaoye to eat local specialty food. This food shop is quite large and specializes in Shanghai Laodizi folk flavors. The taste of Shanghai cuisine is integrated into daily life. As soon as you walk into the restaurant, you are immediately attracted by the delicious food here. In the ordering area, you can see that all the dishes of the day are listed, and just looking at the food gives you an impulse to want to eat. The signature of this shop is undoubtedly a type of cake, which is made with added crab meat and looks like crab shells. It tastes very crispy and tender, with a refreshing aroma in the mouth.

A local specialty fish, a very large one, with tender and delicious fish meat and sweet fish soup. This is also one of the signs of this store, with a large portion and a highly recommended local specialty fish.

Sixth stop: Smurfs theme park

The classic work of Belgian cartoonist Beyo, "The Smurfs," entered China in the 1980s and is one of the childhood memories shared by several generations. The first Smurfs theme park in the Asia Pacific region has been launched, bringing animated scenes into the theme park. Classic characters such as Blue Daddy, Goddess Blue Sister, Smart Star, Troublemaker Stupid, Inventor Spirit, and Evil GeGege Witch have also been transformed into characters in the park. When I walked into the Smurfs theme park, I was attracted by its architectural environment. As soon as I entered the gate, there was a huge blue arched hall with children playing in the middle.

Gegewu's home forest area is located at the entrance of the Smurfs area, and the dense forest isolates the modern atmosphere, allowing visitors to immediately immerse themselves in the fairy tale world created by the amusement park. In the village area, tourists will be immersed in the village where the Smurfs live. Mushroom houses of various sizes are the Smurfs' homes, and they will experience the life scenes in the animation together with the Smurfs. Entering the home of the Grim Witch, tourists will take on the role of members of the Smurfs Rescue Team, and through various challenges, rescue the Smurfs who have been captured by the Grim Witch.

Strategy:
Address: 5088 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District
Transportation: Transfer to Songjiang Route 98 at Sheshan Station on Metro Line 9, or transfer to Songjiang Route 96 at Dongjing Station to reach Shimao Nano Magic City
Ticket: discounted price of 149 yuan

Seventh stop: Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden

Chenshan Botanical Garden is currently the largest comprehensive botanical garden in Shanghai, covering an area of 207 hectares, located at the foot of Chenshan Mountain in the Sheshan Mountains of Songjiang District. Shanghai has a flat terrain and lacks mountains. Although Chen Mountain has an elevation of only 71.4 meters, it is still very rare. According to Dong Qichang's records in the Ming Dynasty, Mount Chen is located southeast of the other mountains, second only to Mount Chen, hence its name.

The scenic area has designed a complete tour route, with the central exhibition area including 26 specialized botanical gardens such as the East China Regional Garden, Mine Pit Garden, Rare Botanical Garden, and Aquatic Botanical Garden. If you visit each one, you won't have enough time in a day. In different seasons, there are flowers blooming, such as cherry blossoms and peach blossoms in spring, lotus and hibiscus flowers in summer, chrysanthemums and dogwoods in autumn, and wintersweet orchids. More importantly, there are flowers that are not commonly seen and cannot be named. Flowers accompany us all year round, and every time we come to Chenshan Botanical Garden, we have a good mood.

Strategy:
Transportation: Take Metro Line 9 to Dongjing Station and transfer to Songjiang Route 19 to Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden (bus stop).
Ticket: Full price ticket: 60 RMB; Discounted Ticket: 50 RMB (Monday to Sunday, January 1st to December 31st)
Half price ticket: Students on campus and minors aged 6-18 with valid identification
Free admission: Elderly people aged 65 and above, children under 1.3 meters or 6 years and below, retired cadres, active military personnel, and disabled persons with valid identification
tips:
The discount ticket is suitable for elderly people aged 60-64
Opening Hours:
08:00-17:30, 08:30-17:00 (Exhibition Greenhouse) (Monday Sunday, March 1st to October 31st)
08:00-17:00, 08:30-16:30 (Exhibition Greenhouse) (November 1st - February 28th of the following year)

About the hotel

This time I stayed at the Shanghai Songjiang Kaiyuan Grand Hotel, which is close to surrounding attractions and has convenient transportation. The room space is relatively large, with large transparent windows that offer a panoramic view of the distant scenery. For me, who often needs to work, having a desk is really useful. The photos taken on that day can be uploaded online for sharing. The lighting in the room is warm colored, which is quite cozy. The bathroom area is also relatively large, and there is a bathtub and a separate wet and dry shower room.

The food in the hotel can't be missed. That night we ate in the Chinese restaurant of the hotel. The sweet scented osmanthus ribs, beef and lobster taste good. The lobster is different from what I usually eat. The lobster meat tastes tender and smooth. Beef is also one of my favorite delicacies.

Write at the end

Shanghai is an international metropolis. For over a century, Shanghai has been the center of Chinese commerce, a gathering place for wealth, and a business card that China presents to the world. Shanghai is very big, and there are many check-in points in Songjiang District that are worth checking in. Experiencing a different Shanghai on site will make you feel another kind of beauty in Shanghai.